Basketball player from Fortrose trains with Inverness club at the age of 75
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JURGEN Diethe has had a lifelong love affair with basketball which has lasted for over 60 years.
The 75-year-old might not play competitively any more, but he still trains with the Inverness Lions, one of the top teams in the north.
The retired journalist co-founded the Fortrose Fury who played in the Highland League and played competitively until 2018.
He only took a break from basketball due to the impact of the pandemic.
But he is determined to stay in the sport and participates in two training sessions a week with the Inverness Lions.
He says despite not playing competitively any more, he loves the sport which still gives him a bounce of enthusiasm.
"The second oldest player I know is about 50," said Diethe.
"I never played at a high level, people might have thought I was good once, but I wasn't. But I just stuck with it for 62 years as I first played when I was 13.
"I was absolutely hopeless at sport in school.
"I grew quickly but I was uncordinated but because I was quite tall at 13 I started basketball.
"I stuck with it ever since basically. There was the odd short interruption but the longest I didn't play was during Covid."
Originally from Germany, Diethe moved to the UK in 1976 and originally stopped playing competitively during his mid-40's whilst living in London.
But he resumed playing basketball over 10 years ago after moving to Fortrose.
Together with Michael Sharkey, he founded the Fortrose Fury which went on to win the Highland League in 2011 and the Claymore Cup in 2012.
He played his final two league games in 2018 but still trains with Inverness Lions and participates in two training sessions a week at Charleston Academy.
Diethe says he still enjoys training with the team and with talented players.
"It is difficult because they are good and young and I have to run around with 18-year-olds," said Diethe.
"I love it, even though they don't give me the ball often."
